Bringing international stars to your doorstep

A new Live & Local season of professional performances in rural community venues across Derbyshire gets underway next month.

Last year saw over 5,000 people attend 58 performances at 45 venues across the county.

For 2013, a busy autumn programme has been lined up which includes quality music, theatre, storytelling and a hilarious puppet show for adults.

Sarah Benn, from Live & Local, said: “Events will take place at intimate venues throughout the county, from village halls and community centres to churches, schools and even a canal lock house.”

Kicking off the season with flair on Thursday October 10, at 7.30pm, will be The April Verch Band at the Taddington Village Institute. Direct from Canada, the band bring their high-energy show blending joyful fiddling, banjo and double bass, breathtaking step dancing, and vocals bridging traditional and modern Americana.

Spring Bank Arts Centre in New Mills hosts an evening of traditional Persian food, song and dancing set in modern-day Tehran with The Iranian Feast on Friday October 18, while New Perspectives Theatre’s poetic play The Lovesong of Alfred J. Hitchcock comes to Tideswell’s Bishop Pursglove School on Thursday October 24.

A gang of young sleuths lead a hair-raising chase across Berlin in Emil and the Detectives at Spring Bank Arts Centre on Saturday November 23, and traditional, barnstorming American music and songs will be performed by rootsy old-time string band Buffalo Gals at Chinley Community Centre on Friday November 29.

For full listings, visit the Live & Local website www.liveandlocal.org.uk.